FEMA Providing Lifeline To Those Suffering From August Flooding

Depending on the type of damage, homeowners could receive up to $32,000 in grant money -- money that goes towards fixing your home and doesn’t have to be paid back, even if your home is already repaired.

 

If more money is needed, that’s where small Business Assistance Loans come in. All centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but closed on Sunday.

Residents with losses from the storms and flooding will save time by registering for help from FEMA before going to the disaster recovery centers.

Four disaster recovery centers opened to assist residents of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. The four centers are one-stop shops where disaster survivors can register for assistance, discuss types of disaster assistance programs with specialists, receive the status of their existing application and obtain other information.

Register at www.disasterassistance.gov or via a web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-FEMA (3362). TTY users may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EDT seven days a week until further notice.

The application deadline is Nov. 24, 2014.

 

Disaster recovery center locations:

Macomb County

Renaissance Unity Church
11200 E. 11 Mile Road
Warren, MI 48089

Oakland County

Gerry Kulick Community Center

1201 Livernois Ave.

Ferndale, MI 48220

Wayne County

Wayne County Community College Welcome Center
8200 West Outer Drive
Detroit, MI 48219

Wayne County Community College Education and Performing Arts Center

21000 Northline Road
Taylor, MI 48180

 

Senate Clears Flood Insurance Bill for Vote To Keep Rates Low

On Monday night, the Senate cleared for floor action legislation that could delay implementation of most flood insurance premium rate hikes for customers of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) imposed by a 2012 bill for as many as four years.


The Senate brought the bill to the floor through rarely used emergency procedures by an overwhelming 86-13 vote. Floor action could begin as early as Wednesday, industry officials said.


The legislation has prompted animated responses from both supporters and opponents. But, an industry lobbyist cautioned that “this was a very strong vote” to clear the bill for floor action under accelerated procedures that required the support of every member of the Senate. “It would seem certain that they have the votes to go all the way with this one,” the lobbyist said.


Given the strong vote on the motion to proceed, opponents of the legislation said they hope the House will significantly modify the legislation so that it imposes caps on annual increases.


Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., alluded to that problem for the legislation in a statement supporting clearing the bill for Senate action. “The problem is going to be down at the other end of that hallway,” Nelson said on the Senate floor, referencing the House, according to a transcript. “Because the speaker of the House has already said that he doesn't like it, but what he's going to find out that he doesn't like is a lot of the members of the House of Representatives whose constituents are facing tenfold increases in their flood insurance.”


The bill is S. 1926, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 and National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform Act of 2014. It would prevent flood insurance rate increases until the Federal Emergency Management Agency's mapping methods are certified as technically sound and an affordability study is completed. The bill would keep in place phase-out of subsidized flood insurance premiums for vacation homes and homes that have a history of repeated flooding